Transforming The Transportation Status Quo with Self-Driving Vehicles

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Prashanthi Raman
Vice President of Global Government Affairs
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Creating a Safer, More Accessible, and Sustainable World with Autonomous Vehicles

Hello everyone, and thank you for joining me today. I would like to extend a special thanks to the Women Tech Global Conference for affording me this opportunity to discuss technology with so many inspiring women. I am Prs Shai Rahman, the Vice President of Global Government Affairs at Cruz. Today, I will be sharing how autonomous vehicles (AVs) can help resolve some of our most pressing challenges, namely climate change, road safety, and accessibility.

In this discussion, I will cover three main areas: safety, accessibility, and sustainability, which form the pillars that constantly keep driving Cruise forward.

The Unacceptable Status Quo of Road Safety and The Role of Autonomous Vehicles

Transportation of today is riddled with unacceptable risks. The tragic reality is that around 40,000 Americans lose their lives on our roadways every year. We have to tirelessly work to reduce this number to zero and thanks to technology's rapid evolution, AVs may hold the key to drastically improving road safety and driving innovation. For instance, AV technology does not get distracted or exhausted and can provide a continuous 360-degree view of its surroundings, making it an invaluable tool for making our roads safer. We have to focus not on who gets there fastest, but who gets there safest.

Building More Accessible and Inclusive Transportation For Everyone

Every individual deserves reliable, affordable, and equitable transportation. Sadly, people with disabilities often face barriers to these basic services. Here, self-driving technology can be quite empowering. It also paves the way for a reimagining of what vehicles can look like, thereby making transportation more accessible. Cruise is presently developing inclusive mobility products designed with all riders in mind. This includes the Cruise Origin Mobility, the first vehicle fully autonomous and wheelchair accessible vehicle, developed in partnership with General Motors.

Realizing a Sustainable Future with Electric Autonomous Vehicles

The rise of pollution caused by transportation demands a sustainable generation of vehicles. At Cruise, we have always been electric and are now the only AV company developing zero-emission self-driving cars from the ground up. We are convinced that in order to reap the substantial societal benefits AVs offer, all AVs must be EVs. Our vehicles are powered entirely by renewable energy sourced from family farms in Central Valley. By shifting to zero-emission vehicles at scale, we can contribute to the mitigation of climate change and its harmful impacts.

Learning from emerging technologies can improve the world and proves quite exciting. As we build a new industry from scratch, we have to focus on how our technology can foster resilient communities, ensure a sustainable future, and ameliorate accessibility. We must strive to launch our technologies with communities, engage in real conversations and understand their needs, hopes, and current frustrations. Furthermore, building relationships with regulators, lawmakers, and other decision-makers is prudent to ensure the industry's future success and how we can collectively benefit our communities.

Thank you so much for your time and participation. On this note, I wrap up my discussion and look forward to answering any questions in the Q&A session.


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